Fire destroys backyard sauna in Port Angeles

Adjacent house charred

PORT ANGELES — An unoccupied outbuilding its owner described as a sweat lodge was destroyed by fire late Sunday morning, authorities said.

The 144-square-foot Port Angeles structure was fully involved when Port Angeles Fire Department personnel arrived, Capt. Kelly Ziegler said in a press release.

According to Peninsula Communications’ 9-1-1 cleared-call log, the incident was identified as a residential structure fire at 11:33 a.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of West Madrona Street.

Two engines and a medic unit were dispatched, Ziegler said in the release.

When firefighters arrived, flames were touching an adjacent residence and reaching to power lines, Ziegler said.

Fire crews extinguished the fire before it extended into the residence.

Port Angeles Light Operations crews replaced damaged power lines Sunday.

Assistant Fire Chief Mike Sanders said Monday the flames slightly charred the side of the house, and a window was broken.

He did not know how many people were living in the house. He said they were able to continue living there.

The backyard sauna was electric powered, he said.

Ziegler said the cause was undetermined. Sanders said the fire was likely electrical in origin.

A damage estimate was unavailable.

Eleven Port Angeles Fire Department personnel and three Clallam County Fire District 2 personnel responded.

Fire District 2 responders were canceled before they arrived.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsula dailynews.com.

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